Crystal Palace take on Rayo Vallecano at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig in a Conference League final showdown and Racing Post's Henry Hardwicke has assessed Wednesday's tie ahead of kick-off.
The Eagles are on the verge of a third trophy in two seasons after the FA Cup landed in south London last term, but Rayo will have eyes on the Conference League prize.
Crystal Palace v Rayo Vallecano Tips Summary
Best Bet - Crystal Palace to win in 90 minutes @ 19/20
Alternative Bet - Ismaila Sarr to score first @ 11/2
Bet Builder - Crystal Palace to lift the trophy, Ismaila Sarr to score, Jefferson Lerma to be shown a card @ 13/2
Crystal Palace v Rayo Vallecano Prediction
Best Bet: Crystal Palace to win in 90 minutes @ 19/20
Palace haven't been able to reach a consistently high level domestically this season, but the Eagles have a chance of European success in the Conference League final and it's an opportunity the south Londoners should take.
Oliver Glasner has experience of European glory, having led Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League final glory over Rangers in 2022,and the departing Austrian could leave Selhurst Park on a high in Leipzig.
There is no doubt that Glasner's announcement that he would leave south London and the departure of key defender Marc Guehi to Manchester City derailed Palace in the Premier League, but the Eagles are still able to soar to a high peak.
The south Londoners hammered Shakhtar Donetsk 5-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the continental competition and Glasner's men hit a total of 26 shots and expected goal figures of 3.05 and 1.43 over two legs of their tie with a useful Fiorentina side.
In the Premier League, Palace have beaten Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton, Liverpool and Newcastle this season and the Eagles are undoubtedly a far better team than their recent domestic efforts suggest.
Rayo Vallecano squeezed past AEK Athens in the quarter-finals and they were just narrow 1-0 winners twice against Strasbourg at the last-four stage of the Conference League.
Glasner will set his side up to stifle the Red Sashes, and Inigo Perez's men may lack the answers to stop the Eagles from swooping on the Conference League trophy.
At 9/10, the south Londoners look a nice price to deliver a second major trophy to Selhurst Park in only two seasons.
Alternative Bet: Ismaila Sarr to score first @ 11/2
Ismaila Sarr has been Palace's most impressive attacking performer this season and the former Watford forward has been expertly released by the astute passing of midfielder Adam Warton.
Sarr has scored 21 times for the south Londoners this season and it's four goals in his last six appearances for the Eagles.
The Senegalese forward was on penalty-taking duty in Palace's recent 2-2 draw with Brentford and spot kicks may offer another opportunity for Sarr to find the net.
Crystal Palace v Rayo Vallecano Bet Builder Tip
Crystal Palace to lift the trophy
Ismaila Sarr to score
Jefferson Lerma to be shown a card
Pays @ 13/2
Taking the insurance of a Palace victory after extra-time or a penalty shootout makes sense in a bet builder, while similarly, backing Ismaila Sarr to score could pay dividends.
Jefferson Lerma has been shown eight yellow cards this season and the Colombian may be asked to fill in at the back with Palace struggling with defensive injuries.
The 31-year-old looks a bet to be shown a card in the Red Bull Arena final.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Crystal Palace have lost only three of their 16 Conference League matches
The Eagles have scored 11 goals in their last five European games
Palace have lost only five of their last 16 games
All of Palace's last eight games have gone over 2.5 goals
Rayo Vallecano are unbeaten in their last nine matches
Rayo Vallecano have conceded only three goals in their previous seven contests
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
